Bobbin orienting installation



v United States Patent 1 3,538,990

[72] Inventors Charles W. Brouwer OTHER REFERENCES Eastfil'eenwich d Sheets 1 2 r d r r l 3-6 f Carlton N. Bugbee,,lr., David T. Guerin, and relevant o wg per men co 5 o only are [211 App! No Egg 222 v-Taiaiwmlckimlshnd Hopper Feeds (Bulletin): pp. [3- l4: Mach. Publ. Co.,

Ltd. C [22] Filed Sept. 11 1967 opy In group 313, class 198 33(Rl) Patented Nov. 10, 1970 Prlmary ExammerEdward A. Sroka [73] Assign mm Corporation Attorney- Albert P. Davis and Burnett W. Norton Warwick, Rhode Island acorponfion of Massachusetts ABSTRACT: A textile mill installation and apparatus for simultaneously handling various types of filled yarn bobbins. BOBBIN INSTALLATION The filled bobbins are stored in a yarn spinning Oi tWlElll'lg 22 Chin's 24 Drawing Figs gi'ogessnzigtarea. Each type of filled blgbbmshrs stored in a ume con 1 Ion m a separate storage in at t e processing area [52] US. Cl. anrtihis autgmatically finveyed to hobbit; orientiitilgbecggpment a e win mg area. e various types 0 onente 0 "'18 are [51] Int. Cl. selectifvgly ttlistributtejl ttg wiriding sgattliions using a gniculiar oneo e eso 0 ms owm eaca s. ncete Field of Search ..l98/33(Ri); various typeggfjumbled bobbins have depiiited i h i 22 1 7, 0 respective storage bins, the entire operation of orienting and [561 g'iilr'lgiliii'ifiili'l difiiZZSQLZlZZiFE 3321322233? UNITED STATES PATENTS veyor in avoiding scuffing and undesirable interference of the 2,916,133 12/ 1959 Copping 198/30 bobbins while conveying the bobbins from the processing area 1,658,428 2/1928 Charles l93/43(B) to the orienting equipment which automatically orients both 3,392,815 7/1968 Skeels l93/33(Rl)UX partially and fully filled bobbins. Finally, a distributing system 3,070,210 l2/ 1962 Woodward.... l98/33(Rl)UX receives the various types of the oriented bobbins and simul- 2,354,717 8/1944 Treciokas 221/10X taneously and automatically distributes each type of bobbin to 2,615,556 10/1952 l-loopes l98/33(Rl)UX winding stations using that type of bobbin.

,.-l5 "i x I43 i '43 t MS I 17 6 I4 I47 I I6 '59 I49 I 5 l49 73 7 /l58 7o 5 i H 26 5s E as 58 |44 i l6l 89 B5 In 5 :5 I92 z 200 I07. 94 .3; P I5 56 I 87" 94 103- no 8 nos f 2 l7 38 42 5 a \06 as use 4s uoz l use 74 7 95 '37 36 28 65 use 8 Sheet 1 of 7 ATTORNEYS 1 Patgnted N09. 10, 1970'- Sheet 2 7 of 7 ATTOFlNEYS Famed Nowflo, 1970 Sheet of D B I YMO FIG. 7

INVENTOR CHARLES W. BROUWE CARLTON N. EEGBEE, JR.

AVID T. GU IN %ATA J I/ M ATTORNFYS Patented "Nov. 19; I970 FIGU INVENTORS S W. BROUWER N N. BUGBE E, JR.

T GUERIN D V. TATA a I: BY

Z ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 10, 1910 'Sheet T F I G. 22 V lg Z52 253 TDRI M M m 2 L in W INVENTORS ES W. BROUWER N N. BUGBE FIG. 24

ATTORNEYS for subsequentusai nounm'on ssrmo msrs umou This invention. relates to a textile mill installation and apparatus and, more particularly, to such an installation and apparatus which is particularly suited for handling filledyarn bobbins. i 1

As used herein theterm bobbin? means any core or other member on which yarn iswound so that itmay be moved from placeltoplace. The term f lled bobbin" meansa bobbin havbobbinsare then carted to a winding area where they are.

usuallydurnpedinto another cart. Awincling machine attendant moves the cart, about thewinding machine and orients and inserts the individual bobbins atwinding machine stations. Often a single winding machine will be simultaneously used for windingvarious types of yarn at its stations so that the attendant must also select the correct type of bobbin for loading.

into each station. The labor cost of.suchanoperation iscon? siderable because ofthe numberofpeople required, and there is a considerable chance of,mistak es.in selecting the correct type of bobbinand orienting the bobbin as. wellas likelihood of scuffing the yarn.

Various attempts at automatically handling such yarn bob- FIG. 3. is anenlarged, fragmentary, schematic vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is-an enlarged, fragmentary, schematic vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 in FIG. 2 (and also in FIG. 3);

FIGS. 57 are enlarged, fragmentary, schematic sectional views taken generally along the lines5-5 through 7-7, respectional views of a portion of a bobbin distributing system shown in FIG. 2, these FIGS. illustrating progressive steps in the operation of the distributing system, with parts broken away and removed for clearer illustration;

FIG. 17 is an-enlarged', fragmentary schematic elevational view of one side of'a portion of the distributing system shown in FIG.. 2 and in FIGS. 11-16 with parts broken away and bins have had little, if any, commercial success. Various proposed machines for oricntingfiIIed bobbinsfor delivery to winding, station generally resultin, rough handling ofthe bobbins and requiresisomc, prcoricntation. such as cording of the bobbins. Part. ol'tthc difficulty encountered with suclrattempted systcmsis that the, bobbins may telescope. together and require special handlingto separate them before the bobbins can beoriented. Then too, scuffing and other damage to equipment is entirelyunsuitedfor handlingboth full and partially full'bobbins whichoccurfrom timeto timein doffmgof the spinning ortwistingmachine.

Thefinven'tion is, inbriefldirected to anautornatic installation and apparatus forsegregating and .orientingfillcd. yarn removed for clearer illustration;

FIG. 18- is. a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 18-18 in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary, schematic rear view of a portion of the apparatusshown in FIG. 17; I

FIG. 20-is a fragmentary, schematic side view of the opposite side of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 17;

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary, schematic, compressed side view similarto FIG. 17 showing the apparatus in a different operating; position, with parts broken and removed for clearer illustration; I

FIG.v 22-is a fragmentary, schematic side. view similar to FIG. 2l ,with the apparatus in still another operatingpositions;

' FIG. 23 is'a diagram illustrating a portion of a control bobbins for, acceptance by winding machine stations. The

oriented bobbins-are automatically delivered to a distributing systemwhichfeedsthe bobbins tothe winding stations.

It is a primary object of thisinventiontoprovidea newand improved textile bobbins.

. Another,object.of thisinvention'is to provide a new, and improved bobbin orienting, apparatus operable for orienting v filled bobbins for acceptance bywindingstationsof a winding machine,

Another .objectof ,thisinvcntion. is provisionof new and'improved bobbin orienting apparatus for effectively preventing scuffing and othendamage to the bobbinsasthey are oriented A further object of thisinvcntion is provision of new and improved bobbin.oricntingjupparatus for atttonutticallyorienting 1 bobbins and effectively preventing the bobbins from tclcscop.

ing and the yarn from scuffing.

mill installation and. apparatus for. orienting These and 'other iobje cts and'advantagesol' the. invention will be apparent from.the following, description and the accompanyingdrawingsinwhicha,

FIG.1 is a fragmentaryplan layout of a textile millinstalla tion for handling various types ,of bobbinsstored in abobbin.

.tional view taken generallyalong theline 3 3 in FIG. 2;

the filled bobbins, is alwaysa problem: and, most orienting 4 system for the installation shown in FIG. I and the apparatus shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 24 isa diagram of another portion of the control system.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a plan layout of a portion of a textile mill-in which suitable partitions 10 separate a yarn processing area 11 and a yarn winding area 12 remote from'the processing area 11. As illustrated, one or more other work areas 13 may separate the yarn processing area 11 and the yarn winding area 12 as often occurs in typical textile mills. As is common practice, a number of yarn processing machines 14, such as spinning frames or twisters, are installed in-the processing area 11 for handling various types of yarn which iswound onto bobbins 15. The installation shown in FIG; 1 is capable of simultaneously handling four different types of bobbins. More or less types may obviously be handlcd. As the various types of filled bobbins 15 are doffed from the processingmachines 14, each type is deposited in a separate storage bin 16 where the bobbins remain until they are required in the winding area 12.

As any particular type of bobbin I5 is required in the winding area 12. it is moved out of its storage bin 16 and onto a delivery conveyor 17, one for each bin 16. Each dclivcry conveyor 17'cooperates with its associated bin 16 in separating any telescoped bobbins l5 and effectively preventing the bobbins fromtelescoping as they are moved to the winding area. A typical bobbin 15 may be seen in FIG. l0and includes a hollow bobbin core l8'having a large end 19 and a smaller opposite end 20 capable of telescoping into the hollow of the large. end 19. Yarn Y (FIG. 10) is wound on an outer frustoconical surfaceof the core and is spaced inwardly of the opposite ends 19 and 20. In order to expedite doffing at the spinning or twisting. machines 14, the filled bobbins [5 are stored in the bins 16in a jumbled condition, that is, withno prescribed orientation between the bobbins.

The delivery conveyors l7 carry the bobbins 15 from the processing area '11, through any intermediate areas I3, to the winding area 12 and discharges the bobbins into bobbin orienting apparatus 25, one such apparatus associated with each conveyor 17 for handling one type of bobbin.

Each orienting apparatus 25 receives its bobbins in jumbled condition and delivers the bobbins with their large ends 19 downward to distributing apparatus 26 associated with a winding machine 27 which uses the bobbin 15 to wind packages P, as is well known in the art. The distributing apparatus 26 receives the various types of bobbins 15 from each of the orienting apparatuses and delivers the correct type of bobbin 15 to winding spindles or stations 28 of the winding machine 27.

Thus, the various types of bobbins 15 may each be stored in jumbled condition in the processing area 11 and conveyed in jumbled condition from the processing area to the bobbin orienting equipment 25 in the winding area 12 where the bobbins are oriented as required for use by the winding machine 27. It is often desirable to simultaneously wind various types of yarn on a winding machine 27, and the bobbin distribution system or apparatus 26 provides for a completely automatic distribution of the bobbins to the winding machine.

In FIG. 2 a prototype apparatus suitable for use in the installation shown in FIG. 1 is illustrated. For simplicity of illustration this apparatus is shown for simultaneously handling two types of bobbins 15, but any number of types may be processed simultaneously. The filled bobbins 15 are deposited in jumbled condition in the storage bins 16 which are also conveyors, one type of bobbin 15 in each of the bins. The bins may be identical in construction and, as illustrated, each is operated by its own motor 32 for conveying the stored bobbins out of the bin.

Each storage bin 16, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, comprises a suitable frame 33 including opposed longitudinal upper members 34 each carrying a set of chain sprockets 35 generally horizontally aligned. Each set of sprockets 35 carries a continuous chain 36. Opposite edge portions 37 of a continuous bobbin receiving conveyor belt 38 are attached, one to each of the chains 36 so as to provide an upper conveyor belt run 39 and a lower run 40 having opposite ends with returned portions 41 at opposite ends of the belt 38. The upper and lower runs of the belt 38 form a deep sag, illustrated at a depth about the same as the width of the belt between the chains 36. A rigid tongue 42 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is secured to a rear upper cross member 43 of the frame 33 and depends at a slight angle from the vertical, into the sag of the conveyor belt 38 and conforms generally to the configuration of the belt when the conveyor belt is loaded with jumbled bobbins 15. This tongue 42 declines from the frame member 43 inwardly of the adjacent return portion 41 of the belt 38 so that bobbins cannot drop off the adjacent end of the belt. Beveled flanges 44 of the upper side frame members 34 cover the belt edges 37 and the chains 36. A discharge end 45 of the belt 38 is opposite the tongue 42 and is positioned above a bobbin receiving end 46 of the delivery conveyor 17 for passing bobbins from the bin 16 onto the delivery conveyor.

The upper run 39 of the bin conveyor belt 38 is moved away from the tongue 42 toward the discharge end 45 of the bin by operation of its supporting chains 36 (FIG. 3) which are driven by their sprockets 35 at the discharge end of the conveyor. Each driven sprocket 35 is mounted for rotation with a concentric upper drive sprocket 50 driven by a vertically disposed continuous chain 51 engaging a lower drive sprocket 52 at the bottom of the frame 33. The lower drive sprockets 52 are mounted for rotation with a common shaft 53 journaled on lower members of the frame at the discharge end of the bin. This shaft 53 is driven by a suitable chain drive 54 including another, larger sprocket 55 on the shaft 53 connected with a smaller sprocket 56 on a delivery conveyor roller shaft 57 suitably journaled on the lower frame members. The delivery conveyor shaft 57 carries another sprocket 58 which forms part of a chain drive 59 from a sprocket 60 on a drive shaft of a gear box of the motor 32 mounted on the lower frame members.

Once the bobbins 15 are deposited on the belt 38 of the storage bin 16, the bobbins move as a mass and there is substantially no relative movement between adjacent bobbins or between the bobbins and the bin conveyor belt.

The delivery conveyor (FIGS. 2 and 6) has a frame 65 and mounted thereon between opposed bobbin retaining walls 66 is a continuous bobbin receiving belt 67 having a high friction surface 68 such as foam rubber or the like, such that the bobbins 15 do not slide on this belt.

An upper run 70 of the delivery belt 67 rides on and conforms to the shape of a first upwardly opening V-shaped support 71 which is slightly spaced from a drive roller 72 fixed to the shaft 57 and from an idler roller 73 (FIG. 2) at the top of an inclined portion 74 of the conveyor, and on a second V- shaped support 75 which is slightly spaced from the idler roller 73 at the top of the incline and a second idler roller 76 at a discharge end 77 of a horizontal upper run 78 of the delivery belt. Thus, if a bobbin 15 is disposed to roll on the inclined portion 74 of the delivery belt it will roll toward the center of .the belt and align itself with the belt. Should a bobbin roll downwardly on the inclined portion 74 of the delivery belt 67 toward its receiving end 46 below the bin conveyor belt 38, a diagonal member 79 (FIG. 6) is fixedly secured to the conveyor frame 65 slightly above the upper run of the delivery belt, and is positioned to cant the bobbin 15 so that the bobbin can not fall off this end of the belt and will be carried with the belt rather than rolling on the belt.

As the bobbins are discharged from the bin 16 they pass downwardly at an incline about a bobbin length and onto the upwardly inclined portion 71 of the delivery conveyor 17. Thus, any telescoped bobbins 15 in the bin 16 tend to separate as they pass from the bin to the delivery conveyor. Furthermore, the drive ratio of the bin conveyor belt 38 to the delivery conveyor belt 67 is preferably l:l0, or other suitable ratio, such that the delivery conveyor belt 67 travels at a substantially higher linear speed than the bin conveyor belt 38. Therefore, as the first of a pair of telescoped bobbins passes onto the delivery conveyor belt 67 it tends to move away from the other telescoped bobbin which is still on the bin conveyor belt and thus separates from the other bobbin.

When the associated orienting apparatus requires bobbins, the bin 16 and delivery conveyor 17 are operated and bobbins 15 pass from the discharge end 77 of the delivery conveyor belt 67 to the orienting apparatus 25 and, more particularly, downwardly through a chute and into a bobbin orienting drum 86 as may best be seen in FIGS. 2, 8, and 9.

A frame 87 (FIG. 2) of the orienting apparatus fixedly mounts a front bobbin inlet wall 88 and rear bobbin outlet or end wall 89 of the drum. A cylindrical housing 90 is fixedly secured to upper portions of these end walls. A rotatable cylindrical drum sidewall member 91 is positioned between these end walls 88 and 89 and within the housing 90 and carries a pair of circumferentially extending tracks 92 fixed to its outer surface. Each track 92 is received by two circumferentially spaced wheels 93 and 94 mounted on a drum base 95 fixedly secured to the orienting apparatus frame 87. As herein illustrated, each of the circumferentially spaced wheels are opposite similar wheels which receive the other track. One pair of the opposed wheels 94 is suitably journaled on the base 95. A second pair of opposed wheels 93 is journaled on a carriage 100. This carriage is pivotally mounted by a pin 101 at one end on the base 95 and, as shown in FIG. 2, has a rigid tongue 102 fixed to and extending from an opposite end. A free end of this tongue is supported by a tension spring 103 depending from a member 104 of the orienting apparatus frame 87. A dash pot 105 smooths the action of the carriage and tongue. When this tongue 102 is depressed it engages an actuator of a switch 106 connected in circuit with the drive motor 32 of the associated bin 16 and delivery conveyor 17 to stop this motor and thus to stop delivery of bobbins to the drum 86. Thus, as bobbins are deposited in the drum 86 the weight of the drum increases and eventually causes the switch 106 to be actuated, stopping the motor and therefore delivery of bobbins.

pulley assembly 109 (FIG. 8) maintains the drive belt 107 taut. The drive wheel 108 is driven through a suitable electrically actuated clutch 110, mounted on the base 95, by means of a shaft 111 constantly driven by a chain drive 112 from a continuously operating motor 113. This shaft 111 carries a similar drive wheel and clutch' for the other orienting drum.

A plurality of flights or flanges 120 extend generally transversely across the inner surface of .the rotatable sidewall 91 and spaced apart sufficiently for receiving but a single filled bobbin longitudinally aligned in a channel 121 defined by adjacent flanges 120. The stationary end walls 88 and 89 of the drum are spaced apart sufficiently so that but one bobbin 15 can be received lengthwise therebetween. As the bobbins are deposited from the delivery conveyor 17 through the chute 85 and into a hopper portion 122 (FIG. 8) of the drum between the end walls 88 and 89 and in the lower portion of the drum inwardly of the flanges 120, the bobbins l5 tumble slightly until they are received in one of the upwardly opening channels 121 at a lower portion of the drum.

As the sidewall member 91 is rotated, counterclockwise as shown by the arrow 123 in FIG. 8, the bobbins in the channels 121 are conveyed upwardly and any bobbins 15 not in a channel but carried along with the sidewall member 91 will fall toward the lower portion of the drum 86 to be subsequently received in a channel 121. As may best be seen in FIG. 9, the channels are disposed so that as they are ascending, and as they pass through an intermediate position in which they open downwardly so the bobbins could fall out of the channels, the channels 121 decline across the sidewall member 91 and, as the sidewall member continues to move upwardly the bobbins carried by the channels roll against a generally cylindrical guide member 130 in the upper portion of the drum between the intermediate position and a discharge position of the channels at the top of the drum. This guide member is secured to the stationary end walls 88 and 89 of the drum and the bobbins are therefore caused. to roll on the guide member. Because of the inclination of the flanges 120, as the bobbins 15 roll on the guide member 130 they move in the direction of the declination and against the rear outlet or end wall 89. Normally the cylindrical sidewall member 91 continues to rotate until a bobbin carried in one of its channels engagesa switch actuator to close a switch 131, secured to the guide member 130 at the top of the drum and just inwardly of the upper end of the guide member. Closing this switch 131 causes the clutch 110 to disengage thereby stopping rotation of the sidewall member 91.

When a bobbin 15 is required, the sidewall member 91 is again rotated (through operation of a control system to bedescribed) and deposits the bobbin 15, which had been cylinder 138 suitably mounted on a post 139 on the orienting apparatus frame 87. The bobbin 15 remains seated on the plunger 137 until another bobbin 15 is required by the distributing apparatus 26, whereupon the accelerator cylinder 138 as actuated by operation of a solenoid valve 140 (FIGS. 8 and 24) to drive its plunger137 upwardly. The plunger is returned, upon release of the valve 140 by low air pressure (about 10 psi.) introduced at the top of the cylinder. The plunger 137 (FIGS. 2 and 9) accelerates the bobbin 15 through the vertical tube 136 and into and through a rigid arcuate inverting tube 141 terminating in a downwardly opening tube 142 of a bobbin holder 143 (FIGS. 2 and 12) which is closed at its bottom end by a gate 144 (FIG. 2) which receives the bobbin 15. This gate 144 is fixedly mounted at the lower end ofa vertical shaft 145 which carries a similar gate 146 at its upper end, the two gates 144 and 146 being disposed so that when the lower gate 144 is closed the upper gate 146 is open. The shaft 145 is journaled on a fin 147 fixed to the tube 142. The lower gate 144 is connected with a plunger of an actuating cylinder 150 which is operated when a solenoid valve 149 is energized, to open the lower gate 144 and close the upper gate 146, and when valve 149 is deenergized and the operating pressure is thus released the cylinder returns the lower gate 144 to closed position and the upper gate to open position. A return spring or a double acting cylinder may be used to return the gates. A bobbin 15 is dropped from the gate 144 substantially simultaneously with accelerating of another bobbin 15 by the accelerator cylinder 138. Normally a bobbin 15 passing through the arcuate tube 141 drops directly onto the lower gate 144 ready for discharge from the orienting apparatus 25 to the distributing system 26, but a partially full guide member 130. The gauges 133 each include a pair of abutments 134 (FIG. 10) spaced apart sufficiently to pass only the small end 20 of the bobbin 15 but not the large end 19 of the bobbin. Therefore, the small end 20 of the bobbin falls between the adjacent gauge abutments 134 and the bobbin 15 pivots downwardly with its large end 19 supported on the other gauge 133 so that the bobbins pass out of the drum 86 through a discharge chute 135, opening through the drum end wall 89, always with their small end 20'first. A resilient finger 136 is mounted on and extends upwardly from the upper end of the guide member 130 to lift any partially full bobbins 15 so that they will be properly positioned for receipt by the gauges 133.

The discharge chute 135 declines into a generally vertical tube 136 which is open at its bottom end so that the small end 20 of the bobbin 15 comes to rest on the upper face of a plunger or platform 137 of a double acting accelerator drive bobbin 15 or other light bobbin may move more rapidly and be momentarily retained on the closed upper gate 146 before dropping to the lower gate 144 for later discharge to the distributing conveyor 26.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 1l-17, the distributing system 26 includes a frame mounted on the orienting frame 87 and on a frame of the winding machine 27 within a console 156. The distributing system also includes a distribut ing conveyor 157, in the form of a continuous belt 158 which has pairs of upper and lower wheels guided in horizontal tracks 159a (FIG. 17) and about pairs of pulleys 159 mounted on the distributing frame 155 at either end of the belt 158. The belt carries sets each including a plurality of bobbin receiving buckets 160, one set for each type of bobbins being handled. The buckets 160 of each set are preferably alternated on the belt 158 with buckets of the other sets. These buckets 160 cross open tops of .bobbin receivers 161 secured to the distributing frame 155. A bobbin receiver 161 is positioned above each of the winding machine stations28.

Each bucket 160 has a body 165 and a bobbin retaining gate 166 which pivots about horizontal studs 167 (FIG. 17) mounted on the body 165 for movement of the gate 166 from an upper closed position for retaining a bobbin 15 in'the body 165, to a lower open position for discharging the bobbin into a receiver 161. A pair of overcenter springs 168 (FIGS. 17 and 18), one on either side of each bucket and secured to the bucket body 165 and to the gate 166 maintains the gate 166 closed and upon slight opening movement of the gate causes the gate to move rapidly to open position. When one of the buckets 160 is empty its gate 166 therefore remains open and passes across an actuator of an associated switch 169 (FIGS. 11 and 24) on the distributing conveyor frame 155, just upstream of the associated bobbin holder 143 from which the empty bucket 160 is to receive a bobbin 15. A cam 170 (FIGS. 2, 11--14 and 16l8) on the empty bucket gate 166 closes thisswitch 169 which actuates the solenoid valve 149 of the associated holder 143, actuating cylinder 150 to open the lower holder gate 144 and discharge a bobbin 15 into the bucket 160 whose gate 166 has just been closed by closing cams 171 and 172 (FIGS. 2 and 11) on the distributor conveying frame 155 downstream of the switch 169. These cams 171 and 172 may best be seen in FIG. 11. A first of these closing cam 171 engages the bucket cam 170 to urge the gate 166 toward closed position and when the gate is partially closed a side edge 173 (FIG. 12) of the gate engages the second closing cam 172 which moves the gate overeenter whereupon the springs 168 fully close the gatev Thus, with the bucket gate 166 closed, the lower gate 144 of the holder 143 opens and a bobbin 15 drops into the bucket 160 as shown in FIG. 12.

If for any reason a bobbin 15 is not in the holder 143 for delivery to the empty bucket 160, an abutment pin 175 (FlG. 12) is moved upwardly to engage the bucket cam 170 and again open the bucket gate 166 so that the next time the bucket 160 passes the holder 143 it may again actuate the switch 169 and cause the holder 143 to deliver a bobbin 15. This abutment pin 175 is the free end ol'a plunger of a double acting actuating cylinder 176 having a high pressure air line 177 (80 p.s.i.) connected through a normally closed solenoid valve 178 and a reverse flow metering valve 179 into the end of the cylinder 176 opposite the plunger to move the plunger to extended position when the solenoid valve is opened. Low pressure air p.s.i.) is applied, through a supply tube 180, to the opposite end of the cylinder to return the plunger, and slow plunger return is assured by the metering valve 179 so that the plunger remains extended for a period just sufficient to reopen the gate 166 of the empty bucket 160. A switch 181 (FIGS. 12 and 24) opens when the plunger is extended to prevent operation of the accelerator valve 140 and holder valve 149, as will be described more fully.

There is a separate actuating switch 169 (FIG. 11) and set of closing cams 171 and 172 for each bobbin holder 143 of each section of associated orienting apparatus, that is, for each type of bobbin being handled. The cams 170 on the bucket gates 166 are adjustable to fixed positions, one such position for each type of bobbin 15 being handled. With reference to FlGS. l7 and 18. these cams 170 are fixed on the bights 185 of U-shaped bails 186. Free ends of the bail 186 are pivotably mounted on the respective gate by studs 167, and have bolt holes 188, one for each type of bobbin to be handled. These holes 188 are in a circular pattern concentric with the rivets 187, and each hole may be aligned with a threaded bolt hole in the bucket gate 166 to receive a bolt 189 and secure the bail 186 and the cam 170 in adjusted position.

The bucket 160 now carries its bobbin 15 until one of the winding stations 28 of a winding section which uses this type of bobbin demands another bobbin. When this occurs a delivery abutment pin 190 (FlGS. 13-18), slidably mounted in a body 191 adjustably secured on a body portion 192 of the bobbin receiver 161, is raised to engage the bucket gate cam 170 and open the gate 166 as shown in FIG. 13. A pair of bolts 193 secure each body 191 to an arm of the associated receiver body, and these bolts may mate with any of a plurality of sets of threaded bores 194, one set corresponding to each type of bobbin. Thus these pins 190 and gate cams 170 may be adjusted not to interfere with similar components of other sections handling different bobbins. When the pin 190 opens the gate 166, the bobbin [5 drops into the receiver 161, and onto a receiver gate 198 which hold the bobbin until the associated winding station 28 again requires a bobbin, whereupon the receiver gate 198 opens (FIG. 15) and the bobbin 15 is discharged through a tube 199 and into a creel 200 of the winding station 28. This creel 200 is part of the winding station 28, and maybe ot' the type provided in Winding Machine No. 644 ntanulhctured by Leesona orporation, Warwick, Rhode Island, and a suitable winding station control is dis closed in a Leesona Corporation US. Pat. No. 3,081,045 granted to Thomas E. Pitts and Carlton A. Steele on Mar. 12, 1963.

As the bobbin 15 passes from the bucket 160 into the receiver 161, it engages the receiver gate 198 which is fixed to a shaft 201 journaled in the receiver body 192 and held in position by an overeenter spring 202 secured to a cam 203 and to the body 192 of the receiver 161 to maintain the gate 198 in a waiting position inclined slightly. upwardly from the shaft 201 as shown in FIGS. 13, 16 and 17. This gate moves overcenter as the bobbin engages the gate and the weight of the bobbin moves the gate to a bobbin holding position shown in FIGS. 14 and 21. In moving to a bobbin holding position, the receiver gate 198 which is fixed to the shaft 201 journaled in the receiver body 192, causes rotation of the shaft 201 and the cam 203 secured to an outer end of the shaft moves the cam to the position shown in FlG. 21. This movement of the cam 203 causes an abutment 206 on the cam to move a pivoted lever 207 from the position shown in FIG. 17 to the position shown in FlG. 21 and such movement is transmitted through a cable 208 to lower the bucket opening pin 190 so that subsequent buckets 160 will not be opened to discharge a bobbin 15 into this now t'ull receiver 161. When the winding station 28 requires another bobbin 15, it produces a signal (to be described) which operates a solenoid valve 209 (FlGS. and 23) to actuate a small cylinder 210 on a side of the receiver body 192 opposite the previously described cam 203 and lever 207. Actuation of this cylinder 210 withdraws a keeper 211, pivoted to the side of the receiver body 192, from holding engagement with a latch 212 fixed to the receiver gate shaft 201 so that the weight of the bobbin 15, and the overeenter spring 202, causes the latch to rotate (dotted lines in FIG. 20) and the gate 198 to open rapidly permitting the bobbin 15 to drop into the tube 199 for passage into the creel 200. Upon discontinuance of the signal from the winding head the pressure in the opening cylinder 210 is released and a spring 213 connected between the keeper 211 and the receiver body 192 moves the keeper 211 back to latching position. A predetermined time after the opening cylinder 210 has operated, a solenoid valve 214a is'opened and operates a closing cylinder 214, fixedly mounted on the back of the receiver body 192, has a plunger 215 which moves downwardly and depress a finger 216 extending outwardly from the receiver gate shaft 201 to swing the shaft 201 and the gate 198 to the waiting or receiving position and the overeenter spring 202 maintains the gate in this position until another bobbin 15 drops into the receiver.

The control system for the installation is shown in FIGS. 23 and 24. Operation of the system is controlled from winding stations 28 which signal for release of a bobbin from its associated receiver 161, which in turn signal a bucket to deliver a bobbin 15 to the receiver. The empty bucket cam closes the switch 169 to operate the holder 143 to deliver a bobbin to the empty bucket whose gate is previously closed by the cams 171 and 172, and to fire another bobbin from the accelerator plunger 137 to the holder.

Each winding station 28 includes a control unit which automatically calls for an additional bobbin 15 as needed. This unit is fully described in the previously mentioned Leesona Corporation patent. To simplify an understanding of the function of this unit, an alternate form of winding station signalling system is shown in P10. 23. When the yarn Y is being withdrawn from a bobbin 15 at the winding station 28, the yarn maintains a yarn sensing pin 220 in an elevated position. As the yarn Y is exhausted from the bobbin, the tail end of the yarn Y passes by the sensing pin 220 and the pin drops to close a switch 221 thereby energizing a signal system. As soon as the switch 221 is closed, the solenoid valve 209 of the receiver gate opening cylinder 210 is actuated to release the receiver gate 198 and a bobbin [5 in the receiver is delivered through the tube 199 to the creel 200 associate with this winding station 28. A time delay relay 222, in series circuit with this solenoid valve 209, is of the initial delay type and at the end of this delay operates to close its relay contact 223, thereby energizing the solenoid valve 2140 of the closing cylinder 214 and ac tuating the closing cylinder to move the gate 198 to waiting or receiving position. This time delay is sufficient for the bobbin 15 to pass from the receiver 161 into the tube 199 leading to the creel 200. A normal end finding function of the winding station 28 causes the starting end of yarn Y from another bobbin 15 to elevatethe sensing pin 220, whereupon the switch 221 opens.

With reference to the portion of the control system shown in FIG. 24, as the distributing conveyor 26 moves an empty bucket to close the delivery switch 169 (FIG. 11) on the distributing conveyor frame, if the switch 131 in the orienting drum 86 is closed, indicating a bobbin 15 is in position for delivery to the drum gauge mechanism 132, a relay 228 is energized closing its contact 229 so that the solenoid valve 149 is energized and the holder cylinder 150 operates to deliver a bobbin 15 to the empty bucket 160; and the solenoid valve 140 to the bobbinaccelerator cylinder 138 is energized so that a bobbin is accelerated through the inverting tube 141 and drops onto the lower holder gate 144 (which-opens and closes while the bobbin is traveling through the tube 141). If a bobbin 15 is not present at the top of the barrel, the switch 131 will be opened so that the relay 228 in circuit with this switch 131 is not energized and its contact 229 therefore remains open, thus preventing the solenoid valves 140 and 149 of the accelerator 138 and the holder 143, respectively, from being energized and the holder and accelerator remain inoperative. (The bobbin present switch 131 at the top of the drum 86 would remain openin the event that the barrel was empty of bobbin, for example.) Also, if a bobbin 15 is not present to close the bobbin present switch 131, a second contact 230 the relay 228 remains closed to energize the solenoid valve 178 of the bucket reopening cylinder 176 so that this cylinder raises its plunger 175 to reopen the gate 166 of the still empty bucket. As mentioned previously, when the reopening plunger 175 (FIG. 12) is extended to reopen the empty bucket, the plunger opens the switch 181 so that the solenoid valves 140 and 149 of the accelerator cylinder 138 and the holder cylinder 150, respectively, are not energized. A third normally closed relay contact 231 remains closed if a bobbin 15 is not on the bobbin present switch 131, and this contact is in circuit with the electric clutch 110 to keep the clutch energized and the drum sidewall 91 rotating to move a bobbin 15 onto the bobbin present switch and deenergize the clutch to stop the sidewall. As soon as the delivery switch 169 is depressed by the cam 170 of an open bucket 160, an instant operating terminal delay time delay relay 232 is energized to open its contact 233 in circuit with the actuating coil of this time delay relay 232 so that the terminal delay timing is not effected by fast or slow operation of the delivery switch 169. A second, normally open contact 234 of the time delay relay 232 is in circuit with" the electric drum clutch 110 (FIG. 8) and upon closing of this contact 234 the drum sidewall 91 starts rotating to move the bobbin l depressing the bobbin present switch 131 off of this switch and onto the gauge device 132 for delivery to the accelerator platform 137. The terminal delay of the time delay relay 232 is sufficiently long so that it expires after the bobbin rnoves off of the bobbin present switch 131 and this switch opens. Therefore sidewall 91 of the drum 86 continues to rotate until the bobbin present switch 131 again closes whereupon the contact 231 opens and the barrel stops rotating. Also shown in FIG. 24 is the barrel weight switch 106 (E16. 2) which is in circuit with the motor 32 for Y the bin conveyor belt 38 and the delivery conveyor belt 67.

While this invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments in a particular environment, various changes may be apparent to one skilled in the art, and the invention is therefore not to be limited to such embodiments or environments except as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for segregating bobbins, comprising bobbin carrying means having a channel for carrying only one bobbin at a time, means mounting said bobbin carrying means for movement along-an upwardly extending path from a position with said channel opening upwardly for receiving a bobbin and through a position in which a bobbin not received in said channel and traveling upwardly therewith may fall away from said channel and then through an intermediate position in which said channel is first inverted sufficiently for discharging a said one bobbin therefrom and to a discharge position in which the bobbin is discharged from the channel, guide means extending generally from said intermediate position to said discharge position for retaining the bobbin within said chan' nel, whereby a bobbin not received in said channel and traveling upwardly therewith falls away from said guide means to avoid interference therewith, and a retaining surface extending across an end of said channel, and when along said guide means and proximate said intermediate position said channel declining longitudinally toward said surface, whereby said one bobbin may move toward said surface.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said bobbin has a rounded cross section so that the bobbin may roll, and in which said channel may receive said one bobbin only when the bobbin is generally longitudinally aligned with said channel, whereby when said channel is along said guide means, said bobbin may roll on said guide means and move longitudinally toward said surface.

3. Apparatus for orienting filled bobbins having a large end and a small end, said apparatus comprising a hollow drum having opposed end walls and therebetween a generally cylindrical sidewall with a longitudinal axis generally horizontally disposed, means mounting said sidewall for rotation about said axis, bobbin carrying means on said sidewall within said drum and skewed relative to said axis for receiving and elevating the bobbins and for separating the bobbins each from the other and delivering the bobbins one at a time, means for orienting the separated bobbins with corresponding ends similarly positioned, and drive means for rotating said sidewall about said axis.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which said carrying means includes channels having generally parallel side surfaces, each of said channels for receiving only one bobbin and only when the bobbin is generally longitudinally aligned with the channel, said channels extending longitudinally across said sidewall andopening inwardly generally toward the center of said drum.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which said orienting means includes gauge means comprising a pair of gauges, one adjacent each. of said end walls, said gauges each having means comprising abutments spaced apart sufficiently for just passing the small end of a bobbin and releasably retaining the large end of the bobbin until the small end has passed through the other gauge, whereby the bobbins pass through said abutmentsin oriented condition small end first.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said bobbin handling means, provides common means for orienting both partially and fully filled bobbins.

7. Apparatusfor orienting filled bobbins having a large end and a small end, said apparatus comprising a hollow drum having opposed end walls and therebetween a generally cylindrical sidewall with a longitudinal axis generally horizontally disposed, means mounting said sidewall for rotation about said axis, bobbin handling means including, bobbin carrying means secured to said sidewall within said drum for receiving the bobbins and operable for separating and elevating the hobbins, and means for orienting the separated bobbins with corresponding ends similarly positioned, and means for inverting a bobbin discharged from said orienting means.

8. Apparatus for handling bobbins having opposite ends and a rounded cross section so that they may roll, comprising a member having bobbin carrying means including a channel for receiving a bobbin only when the bobbin is generally longitudinally aligned with said channel, means mounting said member for movement through an upwardly extending path from a position with said channel opening upwardly for receiving a bobbin and through an intermediate position in which said channel is first inverted sufficiently for discharging the bobbin from the channel and to a discharge position in which the bobbin is discharged from the channel, means for moving said member alongsaid path, guide means extending generally from said intermediate position to said discharge position for retaining the bobbin within said channel, and a retaining surface extending across an end of said channel, orienting-means at said discharge position for receiving the bobbin from said channel and for orienting the bobbin when an end of said'bobbin is against said retaining surface, and when along said guide means and proximate said intermediate position said channel declining longitudinally toward said retaining surface, whereby said bobbin may roll on said guide means and move toward said surface for reception by said orienting means.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 in which said channel may receive only one bobbin, and said mounting means mounts said member for movement along a portion of said path prior to said intermediate position in which a bobbin not received in said channel and traveling upwardly with said member may fall away from said guide means to avoid interference therewith.

10. Apparatus for orienting filled bobbins having a large end and a small end, said apparatus comprising a hollow drum having opposed end walls and therebetween a generally cylindrical sidewall with a longitudinal axis generally horizontally disposed, means mounting said sidewall for rotation about said axis, bobbin handling means including, bobbin carrying means secured to said sidewall within said drum for receiving the bobbins and operable for separating and elevating the bobbins, said carrying means including generally parallel channels, each for receiving only one bobbin and only when the bobbin is generally longitudinally aligned with the channel, said channels extending generally longitudinally across said sidewall and opening inwardly generally toward the center of said drum, and means for orienting the separated bobbins with corresponding ends similarly positioned and including said sidewall and portions of said end walls adjacent said sidewall, guide means in an upper portion of said drum for retaining said bobbins in said channels as said bobbins are elevated to the upper portion of the drum, said guide means having an upper end, and gauge means at said upper end of said guide means for receiving bobbins from said channels and orienting the bobbins with their corresponding ends similarly disposed, and drive means operable for rotating said sidewall about said axis.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 in which said gauge means comprises a gauge having abutment means spaced apart sufficiently for passing only the small end of a bobbin.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 in which said gauge means comprises a pair of gauges, one adjacent each of said end walls, said gauges each having means comprising abutinents spaced apart sufficiently for passing only the small end ofa bobbin, and releusiibly retaining the large end ol'the bobbin nntil the small end has passed through the other gauge, whereby the bobbins pass through said abntmcnts in oriented condition small end first.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 in which said bobbin handling means provides means for orienting partially filled bobbins.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 in which one of said end walls has a bobbin receiving inlet for the passage of said bobbins into said drum, and the other of said end walls has a bobbin discharge outlet for discharging the oriented bobbins from the drum.

15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 14 in which said bobbin handling means includes means for inverting and elevating a bobbin discharged through said discharge opening.

16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 in which the last said means comprises a platform for engaging an end of the bobbin, platform drive means for accelerating said platform to project the bobbin along a path, and bobbin holding means along said path to receive said bobbin as it is projected along said path.

17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 in which said holding means has opposite ends and includes closure means at one of said ends operable for releasably holding the bobbin.

18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 in which said bobbin holding means comprises a hollow body along said path for receiving the bobbin, said body having a bobbin receiving end and an opposite bobbin discharge end remote from said receivin end, means including a closure at said receiving end and ano er closure at said discharge end, said closures etng operable between closed positions for preventing passage of said bobbin and open positions for permitting passage of said bobbin, means mounting said closures for simultaneous movement between opposite ones of said positions so that one of said closures in said closed position when the other closure is in said open position, and closure drive means operable for moving said closures between said position, whereby when the receiving end closure is in said open position a bobbin may pass into said hollow body and as said receiving end closure closes and the discharge end closure opens a bobbin in said hollow body may pass therefrom.

19. Apparatus as set forth in claim 18 including control means operable for operating the platform drive means and the closure drive means substantially simultaneously, and operating the sidewall drive means independently of the platform and closure drive means to assure a bobbin being in a predetermined position for acceptance by said gauge means prior to operation of said platform and closure drive means.

20. Apparatus for orienting filled bobbins having a large end and a small end, said apparatus comprising a hollow drum having opposed end walls and thercbetween a generally cylindrical sidewall with a longitudinal axis generally horizontally disposed, means mounting said sidewall for rotation about said axis, bobbin handling means including, bobbin carrying means comprising channels on said sidewall within said drum for receiving the bobbins and separating and elevating the bobbins, means for orienting the separated bobbins with corresponding ends similarly positioned, and drive means for rotating said sidewall about said axis, bobbin receiving means inward of said channels for holding a plurality of bobbins for receipt by said channels, means operable for supplying bobbins to said bobbin receiving means, and control means for operating the bobbin supply means responsive to the weight of the bobbins in said drum tomnintuin a substantially constant quantity of bobbins in said drum.

21. Apparatus as set forth in claim 20 in which said control means operates said bobbin supply means to supply bobbins to said drum responsive to a reduction in the weight of said bobbins in said drum below a predetermined weight.

22 Apparatus as set forth in claim 21 in which the sidewall mounting means comprises roller means mounting said sidewall for rotation about said axis, and said control means comprises a carriage, means mounting at least a portion of said roller means on said carriage, means mounting said carriage for movement responsive to a change in weight of the bobbins in said drum, and sensing means responsive to movement of said carriage for operating said bobbin supply means. 

